VIDEOS and images of Singaporean competitive eater Zermatt Neo finishing off a mammoth plate of nasi kandar has gone viral.
Neo recently set a new “record” at the popular Nasi Kandar Sulaiman restaurant in Jalan Air, Penang where he cleaned off RM300 worth of food in an hour!
The video showed a plate laden with all the typical nasi kandar goodies such as fish head, squid, fried chicken, mutton, lady fingers and a mountain of rice.
@zermattneo Offically set a new record for the most Nasi Kandar devoured by a single soul with this 300RM beast at @nasikandarsulaiman ! I challenge anyone to dethrone me, but be warned – this 8KG throne is made of rice 👊👊 #foodchallenge ♬ original sound – Zermatt Neo
It looked like there was enough food for a large family of five or even more but faced with the gargantuan plate, Neo was undeterred and went about his task, effectively and efficiently as expected of one who is a “pro” competitive eater.
His feat has been widely shared online and elicited many comments.
On Neo’s TikTok page, many netizens expressed amazement over his feat and that he seemed unaffected after the giant meal, saying they would already knock off with a “normal” helping of nasi kandar.
On Nasi Kandar Sulaiman’s Facebook page, it was said many had enquired on Neo’s condition after achieving his feat. It was reported that he seemed perfectly fine and a dose of ‘Kickapoo Joy Juice’ was all that was needed to lift his spirits.
The popular nasi kandar restaurant, one which many Penangites deem as “authentic”, had claimed this was not a publicity stunt on their part and that Neo had come on his volition.
Whoever the instigator, the eatery had obviously benefitted from the publicity from Neo’s feat going viral.
This is underlined by the amount of likes, shares and comments for the posts on the professional glutton’s record-breaking meal (the restaurant states that the previous record was a plate with RM210 of food).
This is a small sample of what was being said on the various posts on Neo’s record-breaking feat.
One commentor said if he had attempted such an amount in one sitting, the meal would have kept him going for a week.
Meanwhile, another said he would be knocked out for days.
One noted that this was a “young man’s game”.
Some expressed astonishment that Neo had space for sirap bandung to wash down his meal.
However, the one thing that many netizens noted was the slender frame of the protagonist.
It was a theme that was repeated on other posts on Neo’s RM300 meal.
However, it was noted that Neo and his ilk take great care with their diets and undergo rigorous physical training to stay in shape.
Most importantly, the posts seem to have the desired effect of getting foodies craving a plate of nasi kandar, which ultimately seems to be the point of the exercise.
This again highlights the power of social media and how marketing has changed. Previously, an SME-sized enterprise like Nasi Kandar Sulaiman would have to rely on word-of-mouth for its “marketing” with advertising in traditional media platforms such as radio and print being out of reach.
But social media platforms aligned with stunts like this certainly allow businesses of varying sizes to reach a large demographic, all the way across the Causeway in this case.
While netizens may gasp at this record-breaking feat, it is advised that such gluttony be left to the “professionals”. Ordinary foodies should just feast within their limits. – July 4, 2024
Main pic credit: Facebook/Nasi Kandar Sulaiman
